Why
I passed her bowed head as she started to cry
Trying to console her, I pleaded: but why?
I have nothing to give; I can’t even try
I urged her…open your heart and let it fly
Then companion earth received her lullabies

If you and I were having coffee, I would tell you the story of why I became obsessed with sunflowers this summer. I grew these ENORMOUS plants with strong stalks and deep roots from tiny seeds. The best part was when I left for my Trip Across America, they were not very big. When I got home, they had gone over the roof of my solarium, Honestly, I gasped out loud, and oh, what a reverence i held for their beauty.

Next, I would tell you, that every day since that day I have watched these beauties, I began seeing them as metaphors for life and began studying all their unique facets, not book knowledge, but detail knowledge. Sunflowers caused me to pause and to look closer and to ponder.

Here’s one way you can live as a sunflower. Sunflowers live LARGE and MAGNIFICENCE with no apology. They are uniquely themselves in all their glory. In a way, they are spiritual, always seeking their source, their energy, their vitality, the sun. Even as they die, they die with grace and ever seeking the sun.

If you and I were having coffee, I would tell you that I feel so incredibly blessed for our friendship. I know that you are the kind of friend that I could lose touch with for 30 years, and talk with you, and it would feel as if we had spoken yesterday. I could tell you anything. If I faltered and misspoke or made a mistake, you would know I was human and hold me in Divine love like the word “Namaste.” And I KNOW you know I’d treat you the same.

If you and I were having coffee. I would be fully present and devour every moment for I find you extremely amusing and truly cherish our friendship. We could tell each other dreams of peace and a better world, and because our space became enlightened and sacred, the world began to shift.

Sunflowers bloom like crazy! Little did I know that when I planted sunflowers that I would get GIANT flowers whose enormity takes up my entire garden. I was hoping for a few sunflowers…but I got them in dozens. They grew over the top of my solarium. They shadowed all my vegetables and even killed some plants begging for the sunlight they so graciously took.

But I’m not mad at them…they are GLORIOUS! Their bulbous faces to the sun. Their majestic power and strength. Their ability to bring joy on the most cloudy day. I love sunflowers for they represent my favorite word in the world: JOY. Whose face can’t be brightened by the presence of a sunflower?

Now on to the metaphors. My sunflowers have been through some really tough times. There have been three hefty storms pushing at them and trying to knock them down. Currently, some of their faces are to the ground because the last storm hit them so hard, and I need someone to assist in getting them back up. Even in this adversity, they continue to “shine on.”

I’ve been taking pictures of their various states throughout the summer. As I pondered on these, I realized they represent metaphors of life.

The storms knocked this one down and the roots are hanging on by a thread, but this one pursued, draping across the porch and shooting up! (Not an easy feat, but we can all learn something from this)

The middle one is frazzled and lost all his hair, but is still surrounded by his friends holding him up.

The”different” one in the bunch…not like the others, but”blooming” where its planted.

Face to the ground…knocked down…but still growing…these lovelies will soon get assistance.

Shine on.
Be beautiful.
Be MASSIVE!!!

Namaste my friends…and be as bold as a sunflower…under any conditions…no matter what, just bloom.